Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma

Mata Amritanandamayi is known throughout the world as Amma, or Mother, for her selfless love and compassion toward all beings. Her entire life has been dedicated to alleviating the pain of the poor, and those suffering physically and emotionally.

Throughout her life, Mata Amritanandamayi has embraced and comforted more than 34 million people. Amma inspires, uplifts, and transforms through her embrace, her spiritual wisdom and through her global charities, known as Embracing the World.® When asked where she gets the energy to help so many people, she answers: "Where there is true love, anything is effortless."

While Amma is widely regarded as one of India’s foremost spiritual leaders, Amma says that her religion is love. She has never asked anyone to change their religion but only to contemplate the essential principles of their own faith and to try to live accordingly.

In order to help search for a global solution to the burgeoning crisis of online sexual abuse of children, Amma participated in the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities’ first forum, “Child Dignity in the Digital World,” at the invitation of the Government of the United Arab Emirates.